The EU budget continues delivering for Europe in 2025

Today, the Court of Auditors (ECA) published its Annual Report, giving the EU's annual accounts a clean bill of health for the 19th consecutive year. The ECA confirmed that the collection of EU revenues was free from material error.

Significant milestones for the EU Budget in 2025

In a context of geopolitical uncertainty, stronger global competition and ongoing conflicts, including the continuing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU budget remained a key tool for delivering on the Union's priorities.

In 2025, the EU budget continued to play a central role in Europe's support for Ukraine. By the end of last year, the EU and its Member States had made available more than €193.3 billion in support since the start of the war, out of which €88.3 billion was enabled by the EU budget. This support covered humanitarian assistance, crisis response, macro-financial assistance, budget support and early recovery and reconstruction.

The EU's competitiveness was also supported by the EU budget in 2025 with investments in strategic sectors, cross-border infrastructure, research and innovation, to the tune of €12.9 billion in 2025 for research and innovation. Between 2021 and 2025, the programme had generated more than 22 500 peer-reviewed scientific publications, involved over 130 000 researchers in upskilling activities and contributed to more than 10 000 innovative products and intellectual property applications. The programme also supported over 10 000 SMEs and start-ups, including in areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced materials in the same period. In parallel, the mobilised €58 billion in investment, with €11.7 billion in grants committed to projects focused on decarbonisation, battery manufacturing and renewable hydrogen.